Chinese zoo paints dogs orange and black to look like tigers

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A zoo in Taizhou, China has sparked outrage on social media after photos emerged showing Chow Chow dogs painted with orange and black stripes to resemble tigers.

The Qinhu Bay Forest Animal Kingdom is facing criticism for what they later described as a “gimmick,” where they professionally dyed several medium-sized Chow Chows to create what they called “tiger dogs.” The painted canines were photographed roaming in their enclosure, complete with painted faces and tails.

“That’s just inhumane! Absolutely disgusting!” wrote one outraged viewer on Instagram, while another commented, “This is not ok.”

When contacted by local media, zoo officials defended their actions, stating that the dogs’ fur was dyed professionally and posed no health risks to the animals. They also emphasized that they weren’t trying to pass the dogs off as actual tigers, but rather as a novelty attraction.

This isn’t the first time the zoo has engaged in such practices. In May 2024, they painted Chow Chows to resemble pandas. “A lot of people are coming to visit them and you need to queue up. There are no panda bears at the zoo and we wanted to do this as a result,” a zoo spokesperson explained.

Similar incidents have occurred at other Chinese facilities. The Shanwei Zoo made headlines in September 2024 when they were caught presenting painted Chow Chows as pandas. Initially denying the deception, they eventually admitted to the ruse, leading to visitors demanding refunds.

While dyeing dog fur isn’t illegal in China, these incidents have led to public backlash, with many calling for participating zoos to be shut down. The controversy has raised questions about ethical practices in animal exhibitions and the potential impact on zoo credibility.

The Chow Chow, the breed at the center of these controversies, ironically originates from Northern China itself, making these incidents particularly notable for their use of a native breed to imitate other native wildlife.